Bridging Instruction: Using Diverse Texts as Foundational Anchors for Equitable K-3 Learning
- School Year: 2025-2026
- Applicants: Jennifer Gold-Thomas, Jennifer Leander, Daniella Maaze
- School: Charter Oak
- Subjects: Language Arts, Diversity/Equity
This project will supply K-3 classrooms across Charter Oak with a collection of high-quality, culturally relevant mentor texts. These books will serve as foundational instructional anchors, significantly enhancing our core ELA curriculum in alignment with the Science of Reading. By providing diverse narratives, the project ensures that every student sees themselves reflected in the curriculum, thereby strengthening student identity and fostering deeper engagement with literature. Crucially, the texts will be utilized by ESOL support staff for pre-teaching critical vocabulary and building background knowledge, ensuring equitable access to complex Tier 1 instruction for all learners. This essential resource will promote high levels of learning and accelerate reading comprehension for hundreds of students.